JOHN Reddington has emerged as one of the great characters of the racing game in recent years.

Now in his early 50s, John only took up race-riding about 10 years ago and has ridden around seven winners between Ireland and England, all in his own Mayo-inspired colours.

From Bohola, John runs his own construction firm in London (JRL Group), and has sponsored a race at the Cheltenham Festival. Not unlike that other legendary Corinthian, David Maxwell, John ducks out of the office when he can to ride in bumpers all over Ireland and Britain.

His latest winner came at Sligo on August 8th, when he rode Love At Sea to win a bumper by 20 lengths at odds of 28/1. It was all the more enjoyable as John’s daughter Erin was there, along with some of John’s friends from Mayo.

Trained in Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary by Pat Hurley, Love At Sea went on to finish an excellent third in a hot Down Royal bumper three weeks later.

John’s racing manager, Lottie Ingleton takes up the story: “Love At Sea was mad in season at Down Royal, so we were delighted with the run. The plan is to run her next in the listed mares’ bumper at Gowran Park on the first weekend in October. It’s a big step up, but if you’re not in…”

Lottie has been working with John on sourcing and placing horses for about three and a half years. “Because of the weight allowance, mares were not always the best option for John. But John’s weight has come down, as he’s become fitter and so we bought a couple of fillies.”

Love At Sea caught Lottie’s eye when she won her point-to-point for Donnchadh Doyle at Ballyknock in April 2022 and again when the mare turned up at the next Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale. “When I saw her at the sales, I thought we might have a chance of getting her,” Lottie recalled. “Most people at that sale are looking for a three-mile chaser, but this mare is smaller-framed and is never going to do that job. She looked the type that could switch back to bumpers.”

Love At Sea was bought for £70,000 and put in training with John’s private trainer Thomas Gallagher, a Mayoman based in Hertfordshire. She was almost immediately placed in a Down Royal bumper, with John on board, before getting a summer break.

“Something wasn’t right with her the following season,” reported Lottie. “She had a couple of runs, but just wasn’t herself, so we gave her another break and then sent her back to Ireland. Eddie Power recommended Pat Hurley to train her and it has worked out very well.”

Lottie admitted she was pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, informing her that Love At Sea had earned an extra €7,500 as an Irish-bred winner of the ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme.

“When I bought her, I noticed she was nominated to the scheme, but it had slipped my mind,” Lottie said. “The mares’ programme in Ireland is very good. Love At Sea was able to switch back from hurdle races to run in bumpers, which is not allowed in Britain, and in Ireland you have bumpers over two and a half miles, which also give you more options.”